BJP govt in Karnataka set to bring bill to ban halal meat. Key points

The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) will soon introduce a bill in the Karnataka assembly to prohibit the sale and circulation of halal meat in shops and restaurants in across the state. On the other hand, the Congress is prepared to oppose the move.

The winter session of the Karnataka assembly started today. A strong debate between BJP and Congress is set to take place over the bill being introduced by the CM Basavaraj Bommai-led government.

BJP MLC N Ravikumar has taken up the initiative to ban food certification by any other organizations other than the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is aimed at prohibiting the sale of halal meat.

According to sources, the state government will enhance the security in the assembly over the anticipated uproar by the political parties over the anti-halal bill, which is being stated as an anti-Muslim bill.

The bill will prevent a lot of private outlets from getting a government certificate for the sale of halal meat in the state. This will trigger outrage among several communities and spark a major uproar.

The issue had already created massive unrest in March after Hindu right wing leaders issued an appeal to boycott halal meat in the state during the Ugadi festival. A section of the BJP party wants to give legal recognition to it by passing a bill.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), along with other Hindutva bodies, has been raising voices against halal certification over the years. The organization said it would restart a campaign across the state against the certification. According to souces, the HJS on Tuesday submitted a memorandum seeking a law to ban the certification.

Ravikumar said that the BJP leadership has been in favor of enacting the law to ban Halal meat. Backing the bill, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said, “Congress can say what it wants, but the majority of the country doesn’t believe in halal. Why should it find a mention on all products.”

In the last session, the Congress had vehemently opposed the BJP government over the anti-conversion bill.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM